Kenya’s telecommunications sector, once synonymous with Safaricom’s dominance, is undergoing a quiet revolution as Airtel Kenya gains ground with growing confidence. The company’s surge in subscriber numbers and strategic market positioning is rapidly reshaping the competitive landscape. According to new data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Airtel registered 3.01 million new SIM cards in the first quarter of 2025, outpacing Safaricom, which added 1.7 million over the same period. This growth pushed Airtel’s total active SIM cards to 24.5 million by March 2025, a 13.95 per cent increase from 21.5 million at the end of 2024. In comparison,…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has begun integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its academic programmes and administrative systems, as part of a broader shift towards digital transformation. The university’s governing council has approved the adoption of a unified University Resource Platform (UNiRP), replacing its Student Management Information System (SMIS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The move is intended to improve teaching, learning, and operational efficiency. As part of the changes, the university plans to redesign and equip its computer laboratories with advanced computing resources to support AI-driven simulations, student projects, and research. MKU has also introduced 13 academic programmes with AI…
Five people have been arrested in Kirinyaga County for alleged involvement in illegal power connections and possession of stolen Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) equipment. The Mt Kenya KPLC security team carried out the operation where they recovered stolen electricity meters, Customer Interface Units (CIUs), climbing gear, safety belts, and other electrical tools that were used for the unauthorized electrical activities. According to Kirinyaga branch manager Ruto Kipkorir, the culprits were arrested in Kagio Town and surrounding areas before they were taken to Kiamaciri Police Station. The first suspect, John Wareri, a notorious unlicensed electrician, was arrested in Kagio…
The Ministry of Education and the National Treasury have come under sharp scrutiny from Parliament after an audit revealed that more than Sh183 billion allocated to the education sector cannot be fully accounted for. The revelations triggered a storm during a live session before the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, July 24, where Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang were grilled over budget implementation failures. The audit covering the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years revealed substantial funding gaps intended for public schools. According to the report, at least Sh71 billion allocated for public secondary schools,…
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has upheld the appointment of Joseph Kitilit as Chief Executive Officer of the state-owned National Mining Corporation (NMC), dismissing a lawsuit filed by fellow candidate Hussein Adan Mohamed. Justice Byram Ongaya ruled on 18 July 2025 that Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho acted lawfully in appointing Eng. Kitilit in May 2025. He stated: “The petitioner has not demonstrated that any irrelevant considerations influenced the second respondent’s [CS for Mining] decision. The second respondent has been found to have selected the interested party [Eng. Kitilit] for appointment and exercised the discretion in line with the…
Kennedy Odede, a Kenyan social entrepreneur and founder of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), has been awarded the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, one of the UN’s highest honors given every five years to individuals who exemplify the legacy of the late South African President, Nelson Mandela. The announcement was made by the United Nations on May 29, 2025, with the official award ceremony taking place on July 18, 2025, during the Nelson Mandela International Day commemorations at the UN Headquarters in New York. Odede was honored alongside Brenda Reynolds of Canada, who was recognized for her work…
The Maasai Mara National Reserve has been officially recognised by the World Book of Records UK as the site of the World’s Greatest Annual Terrestrial Wildlife Migration. In a letter to Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, World Book of Records President Santosh Shukla said the recognition honours the Maasai Mara for hosting the annual Great Migration. “We are delighted to inform you that the Maasai Mara National Reserve has been officially included in the World Book of Records under the distinguished title: World’s Greatest Annual Terrestrial Wildlife Migration, for hosting the largest and most dramatic annual land animal migration on…
Three Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers have been killed and seven others injured following a deadly improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Badaah, along the Kiunga–Sankuri road in Lamu County. According to Lamu East Deputy County Commissioner George Kubai, the soldiers were returning from Sankuri—where they had been transporting colleagues—when their vehicle hit a hidden explosive device. The injured personnel were first taken to Kiunga Hospital for treatment before being evacuated to specialised military medical facilities in the region. KDF confirmed the wounded are responding well to treatment. In response, a major security operation has been launched to track down…
Residents of Migadini in Changamwe, Mombasa County, are living in fear after a mysterious disease claimed four lives under unclear circumstances. The four victims died from an illness that is yet to be identified. The disease is reported to leave victims’ bodies swollen and covered in pus-filled wounds. The deceased include a 91-year-old woman who died at home on July 9, and three men aged 55, 57, and 69 whose bodies were discovered in varying stages of decomposition on July 14. Health officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of death, with samples sent to the Kenya Medical…
Super petrol, diesel, and kerosene prices have gone up by Sh8.99, Sh8.67, and Sh9.65 per litre respectively, in the latest Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) review announced on Monday, July 14. In Nairobi, the latest fuel price review sets the cost of super petrol at Ksh 186.31 per litre, diesel at Sh171.58 per litre, and kerosene at Sh156.58 per litre, reflecting the current adjustments by EPRA. In Mombasa, super petrol, diesel, and kerosene now retail at Sh183.02, Sh168.30, and Sh153.29 respectively, effective from midnight for the next 30 days. In Kisumu, the revised pump prices will see super petrol…